Club News: 2/06

Feature Article from Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car

AMGBAM
The American MGB Association held its 27th annual Meet on October 2, 2005, at Fairbrook Farms in Bonsall, California (near San Diego). The event was held in conjunction with the 26th annual San Diego British Car Day.
According to Bruce Magers, cars started arriving very early despite a mist and heavy fog. By later that morning, the entire field was filled with cars representing more than 15 British marques. The site of the event was spectacular, with the mountains providing a dramatic background. When the fog lifted and the sun came out, the participants took advantage of the fine weather. It was a serene site typical of California's laid-back style. There were rows and rows of MGs, from early Bs through Limited Editions including Midgets. President Frank Ochal and Magers handled the AMGBA awards presentation. The 1967 MGB of Dan and Ann McLean won the American MGB Association popular vote for best chrome bumper MGB. Contact: www.mgcars.org.uk/amgba/mg.htm.
Retromobile
A favorite pastime among Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car staff is the "We have to get there before we die" game. While there are several 2nd-place contenders-Pebble Beach, Goodwood, Le Mans-it is Paris' eclectic celebration of all things automotive that is consistently the top pick.
Held this year from February 10-19 at Porte de Versailles, it is a combination new and concept car show, old-car show, club meet, autojumble, auction and car corral that has no equal. Major automakers will bring old and new concepts and display rare and historic cars, 300-plus vendors pack the halls with every imaginable variety of old and new part, Christie's holds a magnificent auction...as well as motorcycles, art, scale models, toys, mascots, books, automobilia and petroliana. It is a scene of unimaginable motorized diversity; it is the 2006 Retromobile Salon. Contact: www.retromobile.fr.
Seven Decades of Motorsport
Someone, at least, likes the International Historic Motorsport Show at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry, England, even better than we like Retromobile. In the words of racing legend Sir Stirling Moss, OBE, "It's the best show I have ever been to."
Held February 24-26, 2006, the Third International Historic Motorsport Show promises live action, combined with the spectacle of 450 displays throughout the venue's four main halls-capturing the thrills and nostalgia of 70 years of motorsport.
The show features four live events: A Group B rally car stage; indoor classic motorcycle trials; championship-level autotests; and historic kart racing. Expected to attract over 20,000 visitors, the show also includes hillclimbs, drag racing, classic car and motorcycle books, an autojumble and major auction from Bonhams. Contact: www.historicmotorsportshow.com.
Club Calendar
January/February 2006
February
1-23 University Motors MG Technical Seminars Ada, Michigan
616-682-0800 www.universitymotorsltd.com10-19 Retromobile Porte De Versailles, Paris, France
+33 (892) 692 694 www.retromobile.fr15-18 Automóvil Club del Uruguay Gran Premio Histórico del Uruguay 2006: 19 Capitales Historic
Montevideo, Uruguay +598 1707 www.acu.com.uy24-26 International Historic Motorsport Services Limited International Historic Motorsport Show 2006
Warwickshire, England +44 (0) 01367 250001 www.historicmotorsportshow.com25-26 Pioneer Shows, Ltd. Dublin Sportscar Show Dublin, Ireland
+00 44 (0) 870 333 1277 www.sportscarshow.co.uk25 Historic Auto Rally Organization 12 Hours of the Flemish Ardennes Wichelen, Belgium
+32 52 42 30 48 ioannidesgr@cytanet.com.cyHemmings Sports & Exotic Car would like to hear about activities or national meetings for clubs focused on imported cars. Send details of upcoming events, or photographs and a few paragraphs about recent events to: David Traver Adolphus, Sports & Exotic Car, P.O. Box 904, Bennington, Vermont 05201. E-mail: dadolphus@hemmings.com
Visit the Hemmings Car Clubs pages at www.hemmings.com for news and information on over 1,400 car clubs!

This article originally appeared in the February, 2006 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.